Publishers can now promote their magazine apps for iOS by making them available to view for free at specific locations, thanks to a new use for Apple's wireless iBeacon technology created by a digital publishing startup company.

Using iBeacons, publishers can give readers the same ability to browse a magazine that they would at a real, live newsstand. The concept of magazine promotion by iBeacons was created by Exact Editions, which is calling its service for publishers "ByPlace."

With ByPlace, an iBeacon can serve as an "unlocking device" for appropriate applications to connected iOS devices in the vicinity. Using a tiny, battery-powered iBeacon accessory, a publisher could offer free content access to users located within 15 meters.

According to Exact Editions, publishers and developers can attach several applications to a specific ByPlace iBeacon, and that accessible content can be altered remotely when needed.

Exact Editions sees the use of its ByPlace transmitter specifically appealing to publishers, as they will be able to use it to sell magazine subscriptions to users. In particular, publishers will more easily be able to reach niche audiences when an iBeacon is placed at a corresponding venue.

In examples provided by the startup, an iBeacon for a film magazine could be shared in a movie theater, fashion magazines could be browse-able at an art venue, and business magazines could be available in an airline lounge. Exact Editions also suggested that "discreet but noticeable in-app branding" for the venue hosting the iBeacon could be included, stating sponsorship of the free app preview.

Finally, venues that host apps would be able to see which magazines generate the most business, allowing them to choose similar offerings in the future, and potentially turning visitors into repeat customers who may come back for additional free access in the future.

"iBeacons have tremendous potential for publishers," said Daryl Rayner, managin director of Exact Editions. "They offer a discrete, low cost way for publishers to do something they've never before been able to, market their product digitally based on location. At Exact Editions we are delighted to once again be at the forefront of innovation with Newsstand apps."

iBeacons are a new feature Apple introduced with iOS 7, using Bluetooth Low Energy-based technology to allow location-specific features when within range of an iOS device. So far, retailer Macy's has launched a trial program in New York and San Francisco that track shoppers' movements throughout stores and serve up different offers based on the floor or department the customer is in.

Major League Baseball has also announced plans to use iBeacons to enhance fans' experience at league ballparks, delivering targeted information and offers based on a fan's location within that park. MLB demonstrated the new technology at the New York Mets' Citi Field, showing how fans approaching the gate will have their ticket barcode automatically displayed, while those visiting concession stands may be given a virtual "point card."

This iBeacon tech has to be picked up and cannot be allowed to fade into niche markets. This needs to go mainstream, and stay mainstream. It has so much unlimited potential, and is something that all iOS users should eventually be used to.

This iBeacon tech has to be picked up and cannot be allowed to fade into niche markets. This needs to go mainstream, and stay mainstream. It has so much unlimited potential, and is something that all iOS users should eventually be used to.

Why would I want to "be used to" having my physical location tracked, especially down to the meter (or less).

The problem with all of this location stuff is that people are being trained to be sheep. To have themselves tracked and tagged 24/7, watching where they go and what they do. Correlating with purchases, what you watch on TV, where you work, what you do with your free time, the list goes on forever. That's not only dangerous (for some people), but demeaning and dehumanizing.

The technology is so very, very cool, and has the potential to do really neat and flashy stuff. But I wish people would step back and see the large view that being part of this Borg mindshare, being tracked and analyzed at every moment of your life is Bad, no matter who is doing it.

I mostly definitely trust Apple's motivations above Google's, for the obvious reasons (almost) everyone here understands. But the big, big picture is one of people giving up data about themselves in ways that they cannot possibly understand, and cannot possibly understand how it will be used in the future. So no, I will not get "used to" it.

But now I'm faced with the choice of being physically tracked or using a bluetooth keyboard. Hmm. The real hope is that bluetooth can be enabled without enabling "beacon" functionality.

Yes, most people are being tracked by their cell phone providers (and frankly the only way around that is to only use your mobile device anonymously, which is extremely difficult), but they cannot provide you service without a physical location. However, the problems are two-fold. First, they should not be allowed to keep that data and aggregate it over time to create paths, tendencies, etc. Second, they should not be allowed to sell it, period. Remember, they readily acknowledge they sell that data to federal government agencies.

There's no choice with cell providers, but there are very few of them and it's at least theoretically possible to legally regulate what they do with that data. But when you allow retailers (and pretty much anyone in the world, at that point, good actors and bad actors) the ability to track you around in real-time, that's Really Bad. Because your location can be tracked with such fine detail, retailers will be able to marry your "beacon ID" with your "real person ID" as soon as you make a purchase. Anywhere, just once! Then when all that data gets aggregated and disaggregated by marketing firms, just like cookies do now on your browser, it will allow all kinds of Bad Actors across the world track your location in real time down to exactly where you're standing. Once you've been "tagged", just one time, there will be no way to ever opt out of their tracking without disabling your bluetooth.

Why does anyone think this is a good idea, or are people just not thinking it through?

This iBeacon tech has to be picked up and cannot be allowed to fade into niche markets. This needs to go mainstream, and stay mainstream. It has so much unlimited potential, and is something that all iOS users should eventually be used to.

Why would I want to "be used to" having my physical location tracked, especially down to the meter (or less).

I must misunderstand what iBeacon is then, as I don't think it tracks you, but more like a beacon for iDevices that only pushes data?

This iBeacon tech has to be picked up and cannot be allowed to fade into niche markets. This needs to go mainstream, and stay mainstream. It has so much unlimited potential, and is something that all iOS users should eventually be used to.

Why would I want to "be used to" having my physical location tracked, especially down to the meter (or less).

The problem with all of this location stuff is that people are being trained to be sheep. To have themselves tracked and tagged 24/7, watching where they go and what they do. Correlating with purchases, what you watch on TV, where you work, what you do with your free time, the list goes on forever. That's not only dangerous (for some people), but demeaning and dehumanizing.

The technology is so very, very cool, and has the potential to do really neat and flashy stuff. But I wish people would step back and see the large view that being part of this Borg mindshare, being tracked and analyzed at every moment of your life is Bad, no matter who is doing it.

I mostly definitely trust Apple's motivations above Google's, for the obvious reasons (almost) everyone here understands. But the big, big picture is one of people giving up data about themselves in ways that they cannot possibly understand, and cannot possibly understand how it will be used in the future. So no, I will not get "used to" it.

Your tinfoil hat mentality is the result of watching too many Borg episodes of Start Trek. Might want to lighten-up on it.

You don't want to be tracked? Turn it off. Better yet, disable internet on your phone. Wait, phones use cell towers... better not use cell phones either. Your problem is you love using technology, but hate it at the same time.

Last night I did a Starbucks run in downtown SF, and it simply saddened me that the place was full of patrons, and every single person was looking straight down on their phones, with zero interaction to the people around them. No one was talking. It was sad. I left my phone in my pocket to simply watch everyone and soak in my surroundings. I did not like this part of tech. iBeacon I can handle.

It sounds like this needs an application installed before someone can receive an iBeacon -- which is a major failing.

What iOS really needs is a "close-location based messaging system" with links, text and pictures and it could use bluetooth or wireless at the same time. Basically a sand box that is automatically trusted on the premise that you are "Close to the transmission source." It would of course be a way to SPAM someone, but that would mean someone could just walk away. Until the user clicks on something in the message "sand box" no other interaction can happen.

I really see a use for this at kiosks, in museums, in POS for queries. You are in the model isle at a hobby shop, and so it would have location-based information. You don't have to look up anything about the Lego Mindbots -- it would be there because you were close to the items for sale.

This is completely different from my rants against Data Mining and sales-driven junk we are inundated with on the web. If I bought a car -- that doesn't mean I want car ads for the next year, I'm done with that. If I go to a car showroom, however, it's perfectly appropriate and useful for me to LEARN ABOUT CARS IN FRONT OF ME. And nobody had to datamine me or know what High School I went to for this information to be useful to me, and to help the company make a sale.

There are other systems that try and offer free wifi in exchange for intercepting people making those "bar code scans" to look for a better deal on the product in front of them. It's an opportunity for coupons, value add, or bidding - maybe pointing out that you can return at this store or get support.

Standardizing this process with something useful, non-invasive and non-abusive is good for everyone.

Right now it's an arms race on the web and I can't even download a file I need from download.com without a dozen adds posing as "Click here to download your file" -- and the legitimate link looks exactly as the spoofed malware links. Malware on a site that is supposed to be legitimate?

So this system must be designed for the user to have total control. This advertising by guerrilla warfare tactics is not helping to produce legitimate sales and positive brand identity -- so one has to wonder why Google, FireFox and a host of other user-facing companies are bothering to support it.

Your tinfoil hat mentality is the result of watching too many Borg episodes of Start Trek. Might want to lighten-up on it.

You don't want to be tracked? Turn it off. Better yet, disable internet on your phone. Wait, phones use cell towers... better not use cell phones either. Your problem is you love using technology, but hate it at the same time.

Last night I did a Starbucks run in downtown SF, and it simply saddened me that the place was full of patrons, and every single person was looking straight down on their phones, with zero interaction to the people around them. No one was talking. It was sad. I left my phone in my pocket to simply watch everyone and soak in my surroundings. I did not like this part of tech. iBeacon I can handle.

This iBeacon doesn't need to know who the customer is. The "tin foil hat rant" as you call it is bringing up legitimate concerns that can hinder adoption.

Apple needs to put users in control and anonymize these kinds of transactions. What does a car company care if they can sell me a car? There are too many companies getting sucked into the marketing hype of KNOWING THEIR CUSTOMER. It's a bad idea and a failed premise. Your customer needs to know and LIKE you. You only need to sell a better product or experience and let someone know about that. Getting into data mining is a lose/lose system that is going to end up having people turn things off and developers not be able to know what anyone is using so they have to design to the lowest common denominator.

For instance JavaScript and CSS can be used for malicious action and data gathering. I can install a plugin to turn it off completely, or turn it on selectively. But that takes thought and work, and you want people to visit your web page. Right now, a few web pages end up broken until I tweak a few settings -- but it's better that than the malware.

The impression a customer has that you might be spying on them is more important than whether you are spying on them or not. And spying on someone gives you useless data or something to be used for extortion -- there is no LEGITIMATE REASON to do it.